Ball separator for pocket billiards



Sept. 5, 1967 R. w. MILLER BALL SEPARATO FOR POCKET BILLARDS Filed Aug. 25,v 1964 INVENTOR PHAEL W M ILLl'/IJ ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3339,922 Patented Sept. 5, 1967 3,339,922 BALL SEPARATOR FOR POCKET BILLIARDS Raphael W. Miller, 1406 W. Franklin St., Jackson, Mich. 49203 Filed Aug. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 391,859 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-11) The invention pertains to a ball Separator for pocket billiards, and particularly relates to a ball Separator which is electrically act'uated for Separating pocket billiard balls into table mounted receptacles as they are pocketed during the course of the game.

In pocket billiard 'games it is usually desired to collect the balls "pocketeid by each player for score keeping purposes. AS many pocket billiard tables employ return means wherein 'pocketed balls are conveyed to a common ball receptacle, difficulty is sometimes encountered in separating the balls pocketed by the different players. The invention pertains to a ball Separator for pocket billiard tables wherein a pair of ball receptacles are employed to collect the pocketed balls and the Separator guides the balls of each player to the desired receptacle.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a ball Separator for pocket billiards wherein the Separator is employed in a pocket billiard table ball return system to selectiively separate the balls 'pOcketed by different players.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ball separator 'for pocket billiard table ball return means which is of an economical and dependable construction and which may be employed in the table ball return system without requiring extensive modification to conventional pocket billiard table construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ball separator for pocket 'billiards wherein a plurality of pocket billiard ball receptacles are employed in the table ball return means, and the Separator is electrically operated having control means conveniently located on the table.

i A further object of the invention is to provide a ball Separator for pocket billiard tables employing a pivoted separating or guide arm wherein the guide arm is obliquely related to the Vertical whereby gravity forces aid in maintaining the selected position of the guide arm.

These and other objects of the invention arising from the details and relationships of the components of an embodiment thereof will be apparent from the following description and accompanyin-g drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pocket .billiard table incorporating the ball Separator of the invention, portions of the table being cut away to illustrate the ball Separator structure,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, detail, perspective |view of the ball Separator structure and primary and branch return chutes, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, elevational, detail, sectional view of the ball Separator in accord with the invention, as taken along section III III o-f FIG. 2.

A pocket billiard table 10 is illust'rated in FIG. 1, which includes the conventional planar playing surface 12 and rails 14 having cushioned edges 16 for permitting the pocket billiard balls to rebound therefrom. Pockets 18 are formed in the rails 14 in the conventional manner. In the illustrated embodiment, the playing Surface and rails are supported upon a pair of pedestal leg members 20, one |of which is shown in FIG. 1. The leg pedestal 20 supports a table frame cross member 22, and the cross member is afiixed to the pedestal by brackets 24. Each of the pockets 18 is in communication with a ball return guideway, or chute, whereby "pocketed balls fall to the chute and are returned to collection receptacle means. 'In the illustrated embodiment, the individual pocket chutes, not shown, associated with the pockets communicate with a prima-ry chute 26 substantially centrally disposed with respect to the table frame. A pair of branch chutes 28 and 30 intersect with the primary chute 26 at junction 32. The branch 1chute 28 communicates with the L-shaped ball receptacle 34, while the other branch chute 30 communicates with the ball receptacle 36. The receptacles 34 and 36 are disposed adjacent the lower regions of the pocket billiard table and are exteriorly accessible whereby the players may remove the balls from the receptacles when desired, and may observe the balls while they are in the receptacle. In the disclosed embodiment, the ball return chutes are formed of an extruded, Synthetic plastic material and include longitudinal, upwardly extending rails whereby the balls will be maintained within the chutes. The primary chute 26 includes longitudinal side rails 38 and the branch chutes include longitudinal side lrails 40.

Supporting means for the ball Separator in accord with the invention are attached to the branch return chutes 28 and 30 at their point of intersection. The support means include a pair of planar plates 42 and 44 connected to each other by bracing members 42. Of course, the Support for the ball Separator need not be directly attached to the 'branch chutes, as any suitable support is acceptable which provides the desired relationship between the ball guide arm and the ball return' chutes. The ball guide arm is supported upon a pivot pin 48 which extends through an opening 50 defined in the upper support plate 42 and an opening 52 defined in the lower Support plate 44. AS will be apparent from FIG. 3, the pivot pin 48 is inclined with respect to the Vertical and horizontal, whereby the upper portion of the pivot pin is further removed from the primary ball chute 26 than is the lower 'portion of the pivot pin: The pivot .pin 48 preferably lies in the Vertical plane which intersects the central l'ongitu-dinal aXis of the primary ball return chute 26 and, thus, will be equidistantly spaced from the chute longitudinal side edges 38.

A guide arm 54 is mounted upon the pivot pin for pivotal movement about the axis thereof. The guide arm 54 may be of a planar configuration formed of any suitable Sheet material, such as a Synthetic, thermoplastic material, and includes an upper Support plate 56 and a lower plate 58 which are firmly attached to the guide arm. The configuration of the plates 56 and 58 will be apparent from FIG. 2, and the upper plate '56 is of a substantial width whereby holes 60 may be defined thereon in spaced opposed relationship on oppositesides of the pivot pin 48. The hole 62 defined in the upper plate permits the pivot pin 48 to be inserted therethrough, and the cotter key 64 will maintain the pivot pin in the proper relationship to the guide arm and the support plates 42 and 44. A space-r member 66 is disposed between the plate 56 and the upper surface of the plate 42 to support the guide arm and the pivot pin. The rear longitudinal sides 40 of the branch chutes 28 and 30 are provided with a slot 68 whereby the lower plate 58 may extend therethrough to be engaged by the pivot pin 48. The guide arm 54 is of sufiicient length that the free end 70v thereof will engage the longitudinal sides 38 of the primary ball return chute as it is pivoted between its two operative positions. In the position shown in FIG. 1, the balls rolling along the chute 2'6 will be directed to the receptacle 34. When the guide arm is pivoted to the position shown in FIG. 2, the balls "pocketed will be collected in the receptacle 36. As the guide arm 54 passes between its -two operative positions, the Vertical positioning of the guide arm free end 70 will reach a maximum point when the guide arm lies within the Vertical plane intersecting the central =longitudinal aXis of the primary chute 26. This relationship is due, of course, to the inclination of the pivot axis 4'8. Thus, as the inclination of the pivot axis of pin 48 will tend to cause the guide arm to be pivoting 'downwardly after it passes through the Vertical plane intersecting the longitudinal length of the primary ball return chute, gravity will aid in maintaining the guide arm in either of its selected positions of operation.

Actuation of the guide arm 54 is accomplished through a pair of electrically operated solenoids 72 and 74. The solenoids are mounted upon the support plate 42 and the solenoids are respectively connected to the adjacent hole 60 defined in the guide arm plate 56 by means of linkages 76 and 76' connected to the solenoid plungers 78 and 78'. Preferably, the solenoids 72 and 74 are energized from a battery 80 which may be placed on the pedestal 20. Suitable conductors connect the battery 80 to a terminal board 82 which may be attached to the frame cross member 22. A switch 84 is located on each of the pocket billiard table side rails 14 and a switch 86 is also located on the rails 14. The switches 84 and 86 mounted upon a common rail are preferably located on opposite sides of the side pocket and these switches are of the pushbutton type, and are preferably of different colors. The switches 84 and 86 are connected to appropriate terminals of the terminal board 82 by appropriate conductors. The switches 84 are so connected to the battery and solenoid 72 that the switches 84 will energize the solenoid 72 to pivot the guide arm 54 to the position shown in FIG. 1. In like manner, closing of either of the switches 86 will pivot the guide arm 54 to the position shown in FIG. 2. By locating a switch 84 and 86 upon each side of the table, the switches will be readily accessible to the players at all times.

As play progresses on the table surface 12, prior to each player 'making a play, he will depress the switch S4, for instance, which has been allocated to him. Thus, the solenoids will pivot the guide arm in the direction which will guide all of the balls '*pocketed by that player during his turn to the receptacle 34. When it is the other playefs turn to play, he will depress the other switch 86, which has been assigned to him, and the balls that he '*pockets during his turn will be collected in the other ball receptacle 36.

While the ball Separator of the invention could be supplied with power from a 110 volt power system, the use of the battery 80 is of advantage, in that it considerably simplifies the installation of the billiard table and reduces the possibility of electrical malfunction and danger. Even in a commercial establishment, the amount of current necessary to operate the solenoids 72 and 74 is so low that the battery will be effective for several years before it requires replacement.

By placing the pivot 48 at an oblique angle, gravity forces are utilized to assure that the guide arm will be maintained in the desired position. Thus, it is not necessary to use latching, or other holding devices, with the guide arm, and Springs or the like are not required which would have to be o vercome by the solenoids to produce the selective positioning of the guide arm. The ball separator in accord with the invention is of a simplified construction which is economical to manufacture and to maintain and, yet, efiectively fulfills its intended purpose.

It is appreciated that various modifications to the in- Vention may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is intended that the invention be defined only by the following claim.

What is claimed is:

A separating device for 'pocket billiard balls comprising, in combination, i

(a) a primary pocket billiard ball return chute having spaced longitudinal sides,

(b) a pair of branch ball return chutes intersecting and communicating with said primary chute at a common junction, one of said branch chutes intersecting one of said primary chute longitudinal sides and the other of said branch chutes intersecting the other of said longitudinal sides, said branch chutes extending downwardly with respect to said common junction,

(c) a guide arm disposed adjacent said junction having a free end and a pivot end, said free end being selectively movable from a position adjacent one of the longitudinal sides of said primary chute to a position adjacent the other longitudinal side,

(d) pivot means having an upper end and a lower end and pivotally supporting said guide arm pivot end, said pivot means being so located that positioning of said free end adjacent one of said longitudinal sides will guide balls moving along said primary chute into one of said branch chutes and positioning of said free end adjacent the other longitudinal side guide balls into said other branch chute, said pivot means being obliquely disposed to the Vertical and 'horizontal in a Vertical plane centrally disposed between said primary chute longitudinal sides wherein said lower end is closer to the Vertical projection of said junction than said vupper end whereby said guide arm free end passes through a maximum Vertical height as it passes from one longitudinal chute side to the other and gravity forces tend to maintain said arm free end positioned adjacent the desired longitudinal side,

(e) a pair of solenoids operably connected to said guide arm, a solenoid being connected to said arm on each side of said pivot axis and said Vertical plane centrally disposed between said primary chute longitudinal sides, said solenoids adapted to pivot said arm free end from a position adjacent one of said longitudinal sides to a position adjacent the other longitudinal side, and

(f) manually operated switch means controlling actuation of said solenoids.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,230,059 6/1917 Andrews l 273-11 3,2l5,433 11/ 1965 Thomsen 273-49 FOREIGN PATENTS 400,422 1'0/ 19 3 3 Great Britain.

F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner.

R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner. 

